DIEGO DI FALCO AND CAROLINA ZOKALSKI

August 21, 2002, with Carolina Zokalski and Diego Di Falco, renowned Argentine Tango performers, teachers, and event organizers, at Westway Diner - Restaurant, 212.582.7661, open 24 hrs, 614 Ninth Avenue (between 43rd and 44th Streets), NYC, over Cappuccino, following their last class for the NY Season, and prior to a travel schedule that includes the organization and leadership of a Tango Seminar in Buenos Aires.

REZ - How did you choose the selection of unusual Tango music for the Musicality Workshop?

CZ and DDF - We like to use music that is not often played in Milongas, like Color Tango, Troilo, D'Arienzo, Di Sarli, and Hugo Diaz.

REZ - The Musicality Workshop consisted of different ways of walking to the various pieces of music. You encouraged the students to interpret the appropriate method of moving, depending on the rhythm and mood of the music.

CZ and DDF - We used three basic methods of walking: Simple, half beat, and double time (Milonga). The process is good for the level of our students. They learn to manage their energy in a different way with every song. They have to choose which steps to use for each song. Rather than thinking about steps, they're thinking about proper attitude. They learn that you feel differently in Tango than in Milonga, that Di Sarli and D'Arienzo have different rhythms.

REZ - How often do you present these Musicality Workshops?

CZ and DDF - Only about once a month, or less, so students can develop their ears, to create a Tango technique. Each week we teach to different topics, relating to Tango. The same group usually takes these Workshop lessons, together, for a couple of months, to complete the process.

REZ - You'll be traveling to Argentina, and when will you return to NY?

CZ and DDF - We'll be back in November. In September, we're running a Seminar, for a small intermediate-advanced group of Tangueros. We'll have about 22 people in this Seminar for 10 days.

REZ - For the Vals Workshop, how did you plan the Tango figures?

CZ and DDF - We go to the class, we see what they need, we watch the students dance, and then we know what they need to work on. While they're dancing, right there in the room, we make some figures, like Gonchos, Molinetes, to meet the needs of our students. We make an analysis and see different possibilities for practice from the same combination. Six years ago, when we began teaching, we made up a plan in advance, but that plan did not always work. A student cannot make a Goncho, until she is ready. Our teaching method is to make a spot analysis of the skills of our class and to create combinations that build those skills.

WORKSHOPS

Musicality and Vals

August 14, 2002

Photos by Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower

The following series of photos were taken on August 14, 2002, at Champions Studios, 300 West 43rd Street, in two Wednesday night classes, led by Diego Di Falco and Carolina Zokalski (tan14go@aol.com), (917.673.8528), (908.918.9790), www.CarolinayDiego.com.